An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States for Young People

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

An Indigenous People’s History of . . . Your Own Backyard

Native Land Digital is an initiative that strives to “create and foster conversations about the history of colonialism, Indigenous ways of knowing, and settler-Indigenous relations, through educational resources such as our map and Territory Acknowledgement Guide.” One major resource this site offers is the Native Land Mapping tool, which shows the original Indigenous territories, treaties, and language of any given location.  Using the Native Land Mapping tool (found here), conduct a classroom-wide research project of the location in which you live.

• Enter your school’s address into the search bar. What are the Indigenous territories on which your school sits?
• Toggle the switches above the search bar to also view the languages and treaties that might affect the area surrounding the school.
• Zoom out on the map to view not just your city, but your general region. What are the territories, languages, and treaties that affect the broader region of your school?

Break into small groups (3-5 students each) and create posters or other visual aids that not only list the basic facts of the Indigenous tribes that once occupied your location, but also tell the larger story of what happened to that tribe in modern times.